IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION, PLEASE CLICK ONTO THE "DONATE" BUTTON ABOVE TO SUBMIT YOUR GIFT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING TO SUPPORT THE ANIMALS!! (IF YOU WOULD KINDLY CHECK THE BOX AND GIVE US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, WE CAN SEND YOU A PROPER THANK YOU LETTER.)

JUNE 2, 2018: Our grand opening of the Friends Cat Habitat took place on May 19th. It was a wonderful day with the very first cat adoptions taking place early on. A total of 8 cats and kittens were adopted from the shelter during our official opening of the habitat. Photos follow below of the building of our addition and new photos are now posted from the grand opening day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------FANTASTIC NEWS! OUR GRAND OPENING FOR OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART CAT HABITAT AT THE JACKSON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MAY 19TH FROM 12:30- 4:00 pm. YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED, ANIMAL ADOPTIONS MAY TAKE PLACE DURING THOSE HOURS. THE SHELTER WILL NOT BE OPEN THAT MORNING FOR THEIR REGULAR HOURS, BUT THE EXTENDED HOURS ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 19TH SHOULD GIVE YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO COME OUT AND VISIT.THE ADDRESS OF THE SHELTER IS 3370 SPRING ARBOR ROAD. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Welcome to our Friends Cat Habitat page! Exciting things have been happening at the Jackson County Animal Shelter (JCAS) as Cunningham Construction has work underway in the building our new Cat Habitat addition! In progress photos will be added to our slide show as our super, volunteer photographer Aimee submits them to us. (We also have added photos submitted by others.) Check back often and you can watch along with us as the Friends Cat Habitat, in memory of Mary and Walter Flannery is created.

SEPT. 27 , 2017: CONSTRUCTION OF OUR CAT HABITAT BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27TH!!!!!! WE WILL POST OCCASIONAL PHOTOS AS OUR BUILDING GOES UP. PLEASE COME BACK OFTEN TO SEE IF NEW PHOTOS ARE POSTED.

NOTE: The starting order of photos may change, but the captions below will be listed in the order that the photos appear on the slideshow.

IF THE SLIDESHOW STOPS ON YOU DURING VIEWING, TRY CLICKING ON TO THE FORWARD ARROW THAT APPEARS IN THE UPPER RIGHTHAND CORNER OF THE PHOTO VIEWING AREA. YOU CAN CLICK ON EACH PHOTO AT YOUR OWN PACE USING THIS FEATURE.

The first three photos were taken on a cold, and rainy day (you might say it was raining cats and dogs!) but participants were still happy to be at the JCAS, all bundled up in rain gear, and taking part in the ground-breaking celebration.#1: Dr. C. Anderson, Director D. Hayduk with JCAS staff and volunteers at the groundbreaking. (photo by Aimee P.)#2: S. Fuller, S. Sexton, D. Cerqueira, L. Voncina, N. O'Keefe, Dr. Anderson, D. Hayduk, and B. Cole (our Friends architect) Photo by Aimee P.#3: Jackson County officials and K. Cunningham added to the second photo. (photo by Aimee P.)#4: "Before" photo of the Jackson County Animal Shelter.#5: Our Friends architect, Bob Cole, standing on the newly excavated land on Day 1. (photo by Diane)#6: Preparing the ground to begin putting in footings. Day 1 (photo by Diane)#7: Forms for footings. Day 1 (photo by Marie.)#8: First layer of cement for footings. Day 1 (photo by Marie.)#9: More work on footings. Day 1 (photo by Marie)#10: Day 3, Sept. 29th. (photo by Marie)#11: Oct. 4th, Shot of the front of the shelter with more progress on addition. (photo by Aimee P.)#12: Oct. 4th, Close-up shot with footings in. (photo by Aimee P.)#13: Oct. 4th, Our builders- Cunningham Construction (photo by Aimee P.)#14: Oct. 6th, Cement blocks going in. (photo by Marie A.)#15: Oct. 6th, Cement walls going up, view inside from window opening. (photo by Marie A.)#16: Oct. 10th, starting on the walls. (photo by Marie A.)#17: Oct. 10th, early progress on outside walls. (photo by Marie A.)#18: Oct. 10th, Lots of progress made on the outside walls! (photo by Marie A.)#19: Oct. 12, Outside walls are looking good! (photo by Aimee P.)#20: Oct. 12, Another view of the new addition. (photo by Aimee P.)#21: Nov. 1, Insulation to be installed under the cement to keep kitty feet comfy. (photo by Aimee P.)#22: Nov. 1, Another view of the floor insulation going in. (photo by Aimee P.)#23: Nov. 9, Floor insulation installed. (photo by Marie A.)#24: Nov. 9, View from inside, looking out. (photo by Marie A.)#25: Nov. 9, View of roof trusses from inside the new addition. (photo by Marie A.)#26: Nov. 9, Sections of the floor, preparing for separate enclosures for the kitties. (photo by Marie A.)#27: Nov. 9, View of the roof trusses from inside, looking up. (photo by Marie A.)#28: Dec. 9, 2017: Front of the addition with roof façade in place. (photo by Aimee P.)#29: Dec. 9, 2017: Additional photo of roof in progress. (photo by Aimee P.)#30: Dec. 9, 2017: View from inside the new addition. Note all the duct work going in. (photo by Aimee P.)#31: Jan. 20, 2018: Full view of the progress being made this winter. (photo by Aimee P.)#32: Jan. 20, Closer view of progress and scaffolding. (photo by Aimee P.)#33: Jan. 20, Windows are in! (photo by Aimee P.)#34: Feb. 5, New trim added to roofline. (photo by Aimee P.)#35: Feb. 5, More snowy weather conditions for our construction crew. (photo by Aimee P.)#36: Feb. 5, View from inside the Cat Habitat. Walls and ceiling being worked on. (photo by Aimee P.)#37: Feb. 5, Another inside view as workmen take a break. (photo by Aimee P.)#38: Mar. 6, Walls are up and ceiling is finished! (photo by Aimee P.)#39: Mar. 6, Getting ready to break through to the older building and add a permanent wall. (photo by Aimee)#40: May 19, Finished interior on open house day. (photo by Aimee P.)#41: May 19, Another view of finished interior on open house day. (photo by Aimee P.)#42: May 19, Dr. Cathy Anderson cutting the ribbon to our new addition. (photo by Bill C.)#43: May 19, A visitor playing with a happy cat in an enclosure. (photo by Linda H.)#44: May 19, A young guest playing with a cat in its raised bed. (photo by Linda H.)#45: May 19, Our first adoptions (two black and white cats) by Melody Stone and her daughter Lisa.#46: May 19, The Stone's pictured with board members D. Cerqueira, N. O'Keefe, B. Kukura and S. Fuller.#47: May 19, Thank you sign for people and businesses relating to our new Cat Habitat. (photo by Linda H.)#48: May 19, Bronze plaque mounted by habitat entrance to honor Mary and Walter Flannery. (by Linda H.)